Elizabeth Tatum

My interest in birding (and subsequently bird photography) began when my daughter was about seven years old. We had a Los Angeles Zoo membership, and one of the activities available was an after-hours “Bird and Bat Walk” to see the resident bat colony and also any wildlife that appeared at dusk. The docent leading the tour was really impressive in her ability to identify a bird by sound or sight in a split second. I love learning things so I decided in that moment to start challenging myself to pay attention to birds in my yard and neighborhood. I discovered a lot of great things about birding: it helps me reduce stress, I am fascinated by the diversity and behaviors of birds, I get to find new places to enjoy the outdoors, and I can also appreciate birds just by looking out my window. My bird photography evolved because I wanted to preserve the amazing images I encountered in nature and to share them with others as environmental advocacy. Included in that advocacy is equal and safe access to nature and the outdoors for people of all ethnicities, ages, identities, and physical challenges. As a woman of color I am aware of how important it is to be visible as a birder, as that activity has only recently become more common among people of color.

Many, if not most, birders/birdwatchers have a favorite bird species or type of bird that they feel particularly excited to see. Some people love raptors (like hawks and falcons), some love hummingbirds, others love warblers, etc. I don’t have a favorite species of bird, but I prefer birds that live in or near water (like the Black-crowned Night Heron, the Great Blue Heron, and the Osprey). I think the calming effect of water in combination with the patience of observing birds particularly appeals to me. When choosing places to go birding, I focus on locations that have lakes, wetlands, streams, are near the ocean, and also have trees, and other vegetation, so in addition to seeing my favorites I will also get to see other bird species.